Ruby came on the morning of the second day.
She suddenly asked me to be her partner.
“Pretend to be my lover?”
“Yeah. Can you do it?”
“I need to hear the story first.”
Realizing she hadn’t explained properly in her haste, Ruby coughed a few times and began explaining why she made the request.
“There’s a party tonight with all the club leaders.”
“A party?”
“Yeah, a party for club leaders at the Academy to bond. I need a partner to go with.”
She went on about not wanting to be looked down upon by other club leaders and how networking would benefit me too.
Something felt off, so I tilted my head.
“Isn’t this a partner, not a lover?”
“Yeah, you’re right. A partner.”
“But you said lover earlier.”
“……Did I?”
“Yes.”
“Ahhhh…”
Ruby turned around, covering her face, her ears visibly red even from behind.
Chuckling at her embarrassment, I agreed.
“Alright. I’ll be your partner.”
“……Really?”
“Yeah. Any dress code?”
“Smart casual. School uniform works too.”
After confirming we’d meet at the party venue that night, Ruby dashed off, muttering something under her breath, clearly mortified.
Honestly, I’d be embarrassed too if I mistakenly asked someone to pretend to be my lover.
‘She’s something else.’
Impressed she didn’t just bite her tongue and die right there, I enjoyed the second-day performances with Yuri. Yesterday featured freshmen and some sophomores; today was sophomores and juniors.
The graduating seniors delivered professional-level performances. It was beyond anything I’d seen on Earth.
The Academy churns out dozens of artists like that every year? No wonder most artists starve.
In an industry where only the best survive, new top talents enter the scene each year.
“Kail, Kail.”
“Hmm, what?”
“Let’s check out over there.”
Yuri seemed intrigued by the juniors’ performances and took the lead exploring various spots.
I let her drag me around, enjoying the Cultural Festival.
Thus ended Day Two.
* * *
Evening. Dressed in a suit, I waited at the appointed spot for Ruby. Soon, Ruby appeared in a vibrant red dress matching her hair.
“W-were you waiting long?”
“Not really.”
I scanned her outfit and couldn’t help but admire it. Complimenting another woman besides my fiancée felt awkward, but her toned figure left no choice.
“The dress suits you.”
“Ah, thanks. You look good in a suit too.”
Ruby bowed her head, biting her lip nervously. Watching her, I tilted my head and asked,
“Where’s the party venue?”
“Oh, this way.”
Coming to her senses, she led me toward the venue. Only Academy club leaders could attend. Who knew what quirky people awaited?
Entering a building, a steward checked our tickets and ushered us inside. The opulent interior left me speechless.
“This is…”
“Amazing, right? Former club leaders donated items. Decades’ worth accumulated into this.”
“Someone might steal it.”
“Steal? Who? Rumors would spread among nobles instantly. Who steals heirlooms left by seniors?”
She had a point. Nobles weren’t desperate for money, so they wouldn’t steal such things.
While admiring paintings and golden ceramics, people began approaching us.
“Ruby, who’s he? Picking up strays again?”
“……Barbara, stop talking nonsense.”
A woman with curly hair approached. Her physique indicated she wasn’t from the Knight Department.
Her faint magical aura suggested she was from the Magic Department, likely a junior given her familiarity with Ruby.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Barbara Pashiye, Divination Club President. And you are?”
“Swordsmanship Club’s Kail Meyer.”
“See, picking up strays!”
Barbara exclaimed upon hearing my identity. Ruby waved her hands in protest.
Smirking at Ruby’s flustered state, I asked,
“Does Ruby often do this?”
“Don’t know? By the time this party ends, she probably—”
“I told you it never happened! Quiet!”
Ruby clamped Barbara’s mouth shut and turned to me.
“Just so you know, nothing like that has ever happened. I’m still a virgin. Got it?”
“Yeah, sure. I believe you.”
“It’s true!”
As Ruby shouted, I moved further inside. Intriguing presences were converging on me.
Knightly killing intent, mages’ mana, and unfamiliar energies surrounded me.
“Is this everyone?”
As we entered, a man drinking champagne stood up and raised his glass.
“Welcome, Kail Meyer, to our Noblesse.”
“Noblesse?”
“A club within clubs, formed by club leaders.”
He began introducing himself.
“I’m the Theater Club President, Ka…”
Ignoring him, I searched for the mysterious energy prodding me.
‘Not that, not that… Is it this?’
I captured the intrusive energy with my Aura. The culprit fled swiftly, but an Aura Master’s control was as fast and precise as circulating blood.
Following the energy led to a tiny girl trembling, barely reaching half my height. Small frame, flat chest—why was she here?
Before I could ponder, Ruby rushed over.
“Wait! Kail! What are you doing!?”
“Huh? What…”
“Kyaaaaa!”
The girl screamed and fainted. I raised my hands in surrender.
But it was too late. Everyone’s eyes were on us.
One thing was certain.
‘This party’s done for.’
Ruby looked utterly defeated.
* * *
Shortly after the girl fainted, Ruby dragged me out.
“Don’t worry. Stuff like this happens!”
“Sorry for ruining it.”
“No, no. Princess Hela fainting is pretty common.”
“Princess?”
“You didn’t know? Princess Aska Hela. She’s frail and often faints.”
Ruby shrugged. But something else caught my attention.
“You use honorifics within the Academy.”
“We graduate next year. Equality talk only applies to freshmen and sophomores.”
She mentioned her family was practically a vassal house to the Aska family.
Though noble, her baron family barely scraped by.
“Don’t worry about today. If you feel bad, come to the next one.”
“They happen often?”
“Yeah, almost monthly.”
So it wasn’t the once-a-year special event I thought. Relieved, I nodded.
“See you next time, Chief.”
“Yeah, see you.”
Ruby saw me off with a bitter smile.
Remembering rumors about her exploiting pity dates, I wondered,
‘Could they be true?’
* * *
Day Three of the Cultural Festival began.
Rare days when the Academy opened to outsiders.
Guards braced for potential incidents.
“Did you hear? Today’s performance…”
“What? Really?”
Crowds buzzed excitedly about the main event.
Elite students showcasing their skills to the public.
Only the crème de la crème performed, raising expectations sky-high.
‘Is Aria still in the dorm?’
Checking the lineup, I noticed Aria’s absence and felt something was off.
Her performance wasn’t lacking—it must’ve been low audience numbers that disqualified her.
‘She must be crushed. Being a commoner…’
Wanting to comfort her but not knowing where she was, I headed to the grand performance.
“Hello, everyone!”
The grand performance featured talents rivaling Aria.
Though disappointed Aria didn’t make it, the selected performers were understandable choices.
Waiting for the next act, I heard cheers erupt.
“One, two.”
“Lord Carlos!”
“Kyaaa! Young master!”
Scheduled to perform was Carlos, the Theater Club President.
But.
“Who’s that?”
“Dunno, never seen her…”
Out walked Aria in a dazzling white wedding dress.
Had she been the scheduled performer, cheers would’ve erupted. But she was an unknown newcomer.
“What are you doing! Get her off!”
Art professors shouted at guards, yet no footsteps approached.
Something felt off. Why weren’t they moving despite the professors’ yelling?
‘What’s going on?’
Clarity struck when Aria cleared her throat and began speaking.
“Hello, Academy students and esteemed guests.”
Despite the chaos, her sweet voice captivated the crowd.
“My name is Aria. Aria Vesta.”
Murmurs broke out. The Vesta Marquis had no known daughters.
Just then, Aria stomped her foot. The heel’s echo resounded, followed by her singing.
“Requiem æternam dona eis─.”
“Heck, ugh, errk…”
“Grrraaah!?”
Though heavenly, the song drove listeners mad, clutching their heads.
Soon, the audience began attacking those beside them.
“What’s happening!?”
“Why is this happening!?”
“Dies iræ.”
She sang.
Under her spell, listeners attacked others uncontrollably.
Amidst the chaos, her song continued.
Once most were subdued, Aria stopped singing, smirking like an actor as she dramatically spread her arms.
“Hope you all enjoyed it.”
My Aria.
